BERLIN
2005 - The
2005 SWATCH-FIVB Women's and Men's Beach Volleyball World Championship powered
by Smart (www.beachvolleyball2005.com)
will take place on the Schlossplatz June 22-26. The 48 men's and 48 women's
teams will compete for the medals as US$1,000,000 will be distributed. Olympic
gold medallists Emanuel Rego and Ricardo Santos of Brazil and Misty May and
Kerri Walsh of the United States are expected to compete in the fifth annual
SWATCH-FIVB World Championship as both teams captured the world titles in 2003
in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Brazil has claimed six World Championship gold
medals, including three men (1997, 1999 and 2003) and three women (1997, 1999
and 2001). Mariano Baracetti and Martin Conde of Argentina captured the 2001
men’s title in Austria. Emanuel claimed the 1999 world title with Jose Loiola
in France while Guilherme Marques and Para Ferreira captured the 1997 crown for
Brazil in Los Angeles. May and Walsh denied the Brazilian women their
fourth-straight world crown by defeating Adirana Behar and Shelda Bede in the
2003 finale. Adriana and Shelda won the 1999 and 2001 for Brazil after placing
third in the 1997 World Championships after losing to eventual champions Sandra
Pires and Jackie Silva in the semi-finals. A total of 449 teams from 41
countries have competed in the first four SWATCH-FIVB World Championships where
over US$2.5-million has been distributed.

Men
- The men’s SWATCH-FIVB World Tour returns to Berlin for the 10th-time as the
2005 stop will be part of the SWATCH-FIVB World Championships. Host Germany
will be looking a repeat of the 2004 Berlin stop when Markus Dieckmann and Jonas
Reckermann won the gold medal. The 2004 Berlin stop also marked the first-time
that Brazil did not earn a podium spot as Olympic Champions and 2003 World gold
medallists Emanuel Rego and Ricardo Santos dropped the bronze medal match to
Mariano Baracetti and Martin Conde of Argentina, the 2001 FIVB World Champions.

Women
– The women’s SWATCH-FIVB World Tour returns to Berlin for the fourth-time as
the 2005 stop will be part of the SWATCH-FIVB World Championships. Host Germany
will be looking for its first podium finish for its women’s teams as Suzanne
Lahme and Danja Musch placed fourth in the 2004 Berlin stop.